The carbon dioxide system and eutrophication

To determine the feasibility of eutrophication control by controlling carbon, three major areas were studied: the steady state, in which the growth rates of algae at various constant, maintained dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations were determined; the non-equilibrium, where natural atmospheric replenishment was the sole carbon source; and algal growth with inorganic bicarbonate as the sole carbon source. In studying growth rates of Chlorella, Microcystis, and Anabaena with respect to carbon availability, it was found that algae can utilize dissolved concentrations of carbon dioxide much lower than those from atmospheric equilibria.